The smallest of the original towns were Pelham (3,200 acres), Mamaroneck (3,900 acres*, Scarsdale (3,900 acres), and New Rochelle (5,200 acres). The first federal census was taken in 1790, two years after the organization of our county into towns. The following were the totals for the various political divisions then existing: TOWNS

POPULATION

North Castle (including New Castle). . 2,47<S Bedford 2,170 Cortlandt 1,932 Mount Pleasant (including the present Ossining) 1,921 Yorktown 1,609 Salem (now Lewisboro) 1,153 Greenburgh 1,100 Westchester (including West Farms, Morrisania, and Fordham Manor) 1,336 Stephentown (now Somers) 1,297 Total

TOWNS Yonkers Poundridge North Salem Harrison Rye Fastchester New Rochelle White Plains Mamaroneck Scarsdale Pelham

POPULATION 1,125 1,062 1,058 1,001 21,003

The towns which led in population at this period were the ones having the largest superficial area, and it is also noticeable that the distribution of population in 1790 was without the slightest reference to relative local advantages as those advantages are estimated at the present time. For example, Bedford, lying in the northern central part of the county, remote from New York City, peopled exclusively by farmers, and from its natural conditions incapable of any development other than agricultural, had nearly as many inhabitants as Westchester and Yonkers combined, although the united area of Westchester and Yonkers was some 1,500 acres greater than that of Bedford. Poundridge, smaller than Yonkers, had never theless almost as many inhabitants. Lewisboro was more populous than Greenburgh, though not very much exceeding it in size. Yorktown had only a hundred fewer inhabitants than Eastchester. White Plains, Scarsdale, and Pelham together. Still another fact stands out prominently: the localities which were least exposed to the ravages of the contending forces during the Revolution were those showing the most satisfactory conditions of population.